THQ Giving Away Free Code for Metro 2033

As if its headline grabbing Humble Bundle success weren’t enough, THQ has gone to the next level, flat-out giving away Steam codes to download a digital copy of Metro 2033. What’s the catch? Just like them on Facebook. That’s pretty easy.

The promotion’s a way to hype up the March 2013 release of Metro: Last Light, for sure. But still, given THQ’s financial problems over the last year, I’m not totally sure that straight-up giving away games is the best way to make money. Then again, over the last few weeks THQ’s been in the news, and not for losing money, waiting to file bankruptcy, or lawsuits. Instead, it’s “hey, free or cheap games!” So if nothing else, from a marketing standpoint, this is a good move.

So I’m going to download this game today. When will I play it? I have literally no idea. But it never hurts to have more free stuff just waiting around for a snowy day.

Failure to take advantage of this would be downright stupid. Metro 2033 was easily one of my favorite games of the last few years. The setting and atmosphere are stunningly well-presented, and the story is one of the best ever to grace a video game. The levels are exceedingly well-designed (venture off the beaten path whenever you have enough filters for your gasmask), with the exception of one time where it’s very hard to tell where you’re going (look up), and a level that basically forces you to use the stealth approach (the enemy AI is perceptive, accurate and ruthless). If you’re looking for an absorbing first person shooter, it’s hard to beat Metro 2033.

THQ is smart, pretty much anyone who had interest on the game already either bought on the Steam’s Autumn sale or the THQ bundle, so offering free now is a smart deal because it’s going to reach everyone else.